T-Mobile’s “looking to change the game” by announcing “an innovative, breakthrough program designed to make 4G connectivity a standard, integrated and free feature on select notebooks, tablets and ultra books.”
Through the company’s newly introduced 4G Connect plan, customers who purchases devices will be provided with 200MB of free data every month for 2 years, right out of the box. T-Mobile’s move is very reminiscent of what Google has done with Chromebooks by providing a limited quantity of data with purchase all while offering upgrade options for extra data usage.
“At T-Mobile, we continue to bring game-changing programs to market and believe that 4G connectivity should be a standard, simple solution on any mobile computing device, including notebooks. Our goal is to make sure customers have a ‘walk out working’ experience and not be constrained to Wi-Fi to have a data connection,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile USA. “The revolutionary 4G Connect program is an innovative, industry-first experience that makes it easier than ever for customers to get that data access solution right out-of-the-box at no extra cost, and in retail environments where they already shop for these devices: national retail stores and online.”
The first devices to support T-Mobile’s 4G Connect program include select Windows 8 notebooks and ultrabooks from Dell and HP, including the HP Pavilion DM1 and Dell Inspiron 14z. Device pricing will vary, and users who require more than the allotted 200MB of data per month can upgrade to T-Mobile’s flexible no annual contract passes, which start as low as $10 per GB. 4G Connect will be available to any customer who purchases a supported device, not just existing T-Mobile customers.
Hit the full press release for all the details:
T-Mobile Changes the Rules With 4G Connect, a Breakthrough Program Designed to Make 4G Connectivity Easier Than EverToday, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), T-Mobile USA, Inc., announced 4G Connect, an innovative program that breaks away from the wireless industry and provides customers with value and choice on more devices than ever before. 4G Connect is a breakthrough program designed to make 4G connectivity a standard, integrated and free feature on select notebooks, tablets and Ultrabooks™. Through 4G Connect, consumers who purchase these devices will be able to easily access the Internet out-of-the box, through a high-speed connection via T-Mobile’s fast and dependable nationwide 4G network — all with no extra equipment, annual contracts or commitments.
“At T-Mobile, we continue to bring game-changing programs to market and believe that 4G connectivity should be a standard, simple solution on any mobile computing device, including notebooks. Our goal is to make sure customers have a ‘walk out working’ experience and not be constrained to Wi-Fi to have a data connection,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile USA. “The revolutionary 4G Connect program is an innovative, industry-first experience that makes it easier than ever for customers to get that data access solution right out-of-the-box at no extra cost, and in retail environments where they already shop for these devices: national retail stores and online.”
Wireless data usage is on the rise, and more people are turning to 4G-connected devices when Wi-Fi is not available. Often, consumers have had to invest in additional equipment and service plans, on top of device costs, to access data, which can be cumbersome and costly. With 4G Connect, T-Mobile is bringing consumers an easy and valuable connected experience and business model: a free 4G solution that’s easier than Wi-Fi.
The 4G Connect program is also a great way to introduce new customers to T-Mobile’s nationwide 4G network, which is available in 229 markets, reaching well over 220 million people. In addition, with the always-on connectivity features of Windows 8, only T-Mobile is providing customers with a free nationwide 4G option for a fantastic Windows experience.
The first devices supporting 4G Connect include select Windows 8 notebooks and Ultrabooks from Dell and HP, including the HP Pavilion dm1 and Dell Inspiron 14z Ultrabook. The HP Pavilion dm1is currently available at HP.com and Target. The Dell Inspiron 14z is available at Dell.com. Qualcomm Technologies Inc. is a leading technology provider helping deliver the 4G Connect service and experience. Look for more Qualcomm Gobi-enabled devices as well as Windows RT devices powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon being added to the 4G Connect program in 2013.
Device pricing varies; all-in costs for a device with the free connectivity begin at less than $500. Depending on which device is selected, customers can take advantage of up to 200 MB of free data per month for up to two years. Users who require additional data capacity can take advantage of T-Mobile’s flexible no annual contract passes, which start as low as $10 per GB and can be purchased whenever consumers need additional data. Customers can also purchase monthly or annual contracts if they want larger amounts of data for longer periods of time.
4G Connect is for any customer who purchases a supported device, not just T-Mobile customers, and will introduce all to T-Mobile’s nationwide 4G network. In addition, with the always-on connectivity features of Windows 8, only T-Mobile is providing customers with a free nationwide 4G option for an always-connected Windows experience.
“By enabling the HP Pavilion dm1 with two years of service through T-Mobile’s 4G Connect program, we’re making sure that our customers enjoy a simple, easy computing experience. We’re working with T-Mobile to make 4G connectivity an integral part of our ultramobile products,” said Todd Achilles, vice president of mobility at HP.
“Qualcomm is pleased to be working with T-Mobile and supporting its innovative 4G Connect program to ensure that consumers using mobile devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors and Qualcomm Gobi modems have access to T-Mobile’s 4G network virtually wherever they are,” said Luis Pineda, senior vice president of product management, Qualcomm. “This will uphold our objective to bring great performance and battery life to T-Mobile’s Windows RT devices.”
T-Mobile will continue to grow the program, working with additional OEMs and retail outlets to provide 4G Connecton a broader range of devices to consumers in 2013.
Registration required for service. Service starts on date of customer registration and is not available everywhere. 4G connection speeds will vary due to location, environment, network conditions and other factors. Available in the United States only.